The Cock (28-29)

Mikyllos

Probably this is all very true, Cock, but I will confess my case to you without shame. I am still unable to rid my mind of the longing I have had from childhood to be a rich man. In fact, the dream still stands before my eyes pointing to gold, and, most of all, it chokes me to think of that confounded Simon revelling in such goodfortune.

Cock

I will cure you, Mikyllos. It is still

night, so get up and come with me. I will take you to see Simon and into the houses of the other rich men, to show you how things are with them.

Mikyllos

How can you? The doors are locked. You are not going to make a burglar of me, are you?

Cock

Heaven forbid; but Hermes, whose sacred bird I am, bestowed on me this special gift: if my longest tail-feather, the one that curls because it is so soft, be-

Mikyllos

But you have two like that!

Cock

The man whom I permit to pluck the right hand one and keep it will be able to open any door and see everything, himself unseen, as long as I am willing.

Mikyllos

I did not know, Cock, that you are a sorcerer, too. Now if you will give me this chance once, you will soon see all Simon's wealth transferred to this house; for if I can make my way in I will carry it off, and then he will have to come back to his lasts and nibble for a living.

Cock

That is not permitted. Hermes commanded me, if the holder of the feather should do anything of the sort, to give the alarm and have him caught in the theft.

Mykillos

That is a likely story! Hermes, a thief himself, begrudges theft to others! However, let us be off. I will keep my hands off the gold if I can.

Cock

First, Mikyllos, pluck the soft feather. What are you doing? You have plucked them both!

Mykillos

To be on the safe side, Cock. And you will look better so. Your tail will be more symmetrical.

Cock

All right. Shall we go to see Simon first, or some other millionaire?

Mikyllos

Oh, Simon, by all means, who thinks himself a greater man by two syllables now he is rich. Here we are already at his door. What must I do next?

Cock

Touch the bolt with the feather.

Mykillos

That's done. Gracious heaven, the door has opened as if with a key!

Cock

Go in first. There, do you see him keeping vigil over his accounts?

Mikyllos

Yes! by Zeus, with a feeble, ill-fed lamp. And he is pale, I don't know why, and he has fallen away to a skeleton. It must be from anxiety, for I never heard he was ill otherwise.

Cock

Hear what he says. Then you will know why he is thus.

Simon

So that seventy thousand dollars is pretty safely buried under the bed, and nobody at all knows about it; but I have an idea that Sosylos the groom saw me burying the sixteen thousand under the manger. Anyhow, he is forever about the stable now, though he was not so

very careful or fond of his work before. And probably I am being plundered of a good deal besides this; for where did Tibios get the money for those large fish they say he bought yesterday, and those ear-rings for his wife, worth a dollar at least? It is my money they are snatching, unlucky wretch that I am! Even my plate is not safely stored, and there is so much of it! I am afraid a house-breaker will get it. A great many people envy me and plot against me, particularly my neighbor Mikyllos.

Mikyllos

Yes, by Zeus! I am going off with a basin under my arm just as you did!

Cock

Hush, Mikyllos, he will know we are here.

Simon

The best plan is to sit up all night myself and look after everything. I will get up and make the round of the house. Who is that? I see you, you thief— Good heaven, you are only a pillar-that's all right. I will dig up my money and count it again, lest I overlooked any the day before yesterday. There, I hear some one coming to attack me again. Every one is besieging me and plotting against me. Where is my dagger? If I catch any one- Come, I must bury the money again.